The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1887-10-20

along the dark street. and once would
have fallen had not his comrads
caught him.
"'Take my arm, Paul." the comrade
said.
The impromptu opera house, a new
half finished building, with a ''make.
SHIFT" stage and scenery, was crowded
to Overlooking.
The citizens OF Scuddy were present
almost to man, and even the cow
boys from as far out as the Yellow
hammer and Spade ranches were in
attendance.
Jack Bates, with a bouquet clutched
in his hand, occupied a prominent
position and applauded every part of
the performance with impartial vigor.
The performance had been going on
for some time when the yellow haired
tenor appeared. He came upon the
stage with unsteady, stumbling steps.
His yellow hair was tossed about and
his face was drawn and pallid. When
he began to sing the audience regarded
him with marked disfavor. He was
intoxicated, they thought. His tones
were inharmonious aud often almost
harsh and broken by choking catches.
now and then, as if the singer had
smothered sob in his throat. Then
as his voice scared up, up, in a trium-
plant burst OF music, it broke in
discordant, croak like sound, that
completely destroyed the melody.
The cowboys began to hiss, and
Jack Bates expressed his disfavor in
an audible growl. The singer did not
heed them, but continued his dis
cordant, and, often, half inaudible
soug. as if it had been the most de-
lightful melody in the world.
The cowboys yelled their disapprov-
al at the top of their voices, and one
or two fired Oft their pistols by way
OF protest.
The tenor ceased and one of the la
dies began a song that was like the
sweet music OF lark's liquid notes.
A wild shout OF applause arose from
the cowboys, and Jack Bates stood
up and cast his bouquet upon the
stage. The yellow haired man leaned
YEARLY against one of the supports
of the impormptu scenery. Then as
his turn came again, he broke into
the lady's happy song with his doleful,
CuneleSS crOak.
The cowboys gave a howl of disgust
and wrath and half a dozen of them
started toward the stage, as If to
wreaA summary vengeance upon the
miserable singer.
lie ceased just as they reached the
stage. Bending forward, he seized the
bouquet that Jack Bates had thrown
to the lady, and, without word, the
yellow haired man disappeared from
the view of the audience. They heard
the door of the back entrance slam
behind him. Jack Bates, with a
shout of wrath, dashed down the
aisle and out INTO the darkness, fol-
lowed by the half dozen irate cow
boys and a few others.
A light was shining from the vine
clad window in the ''L' of the hotel
when the angry little crowd reached
it. The cowboys were for rushing in
to the hotel and severely drubbing
the offending singer, but Jack Bates
restrained them.
''Hold on" he said. "Le's see what
the towards dcin' frst.'
"Like's not he's hidin' under the
bed," growled one.
Jack Bates eazed through the in
terlaced vines moment and then
stepped back.
whats he up to?' asked one.
''Look for yerse!f!!" Jack whispered.
One by one they peered in through
the morning glory vines, and each
drew back without a word. Within
the room the yellow haired man was
kneeling beside the bed, with his face
buried in his hands. His slight frame
was shaking with sobs.
The little, pinched face of the baby
was white now, and the painful gasp.
ing for breath had ceased. The baby
had died alone while the father was
away.
The little hands were folded across
the small bosom, and upon them lay
Jack Bates boluet.
No sound came from the little In. /
outside except once, when the jlnglA.
on cowboys spur clanked against q
fellow, and there was q sound from
Jack Bates like an Ill suppressed sob.
A dark figure came among them.
and whispered for the crowd to fol-
low him. It was the man who had
called the yellow haired tenor to the
performance.
"Boys," he said simply, "his wife
died last month, leaving him alone in
the world except for the baby. Last
week the child Was stricken with fever,
and has grown worse ever since:
Hardly a moment at a time has the
baby been out OF his arms, for the
tho q OF fo1v y or1 oil
that time hehas barely closed his eyes
for an instant in sleep. He has missed
his meals to day, for fear his absence
would disturb the baby. The babv's
dead, now. That's all, boys"
A few moments later an awkward
squad, consisting of Jack Bates and
the cowboys, entered the room where
the yellow haired man knelt by the
dead baby. Their hats were off and
their barred heads were bowed.
The man who had spoken outside
was with them.
"Paul," he said, "here are some
who wish to speak to you"
The yellow haired man rose to his
feet and confronted them without
word. Jack Bates cleared his throat
and began awk Sardly:
"Pardner," said he, "yere's q leetle
bundle we found in the road just now.
Hit belongs to you an the dead
baby
They turned and filled out into the
darkness.
The tenor's comrade opened the
little package that Jack Bates had
placed on the bed. When the old, soil
ed handkerchief was united there was
revealed a little heap of money-gold.
silver and notes to a goodly amount
the gift of Jack Bates and the COW.
boys.
The Great Tower at Paris.
Paris Dispatch to London Telegraph.
The works on the Champ de Mars
for the exhibition OF 1889 are going
on apace. The foundations for sever
o1 &c l,o II l., 4